Private investigator licensing in North Dakota
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in North Dakota.
The North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board licenses individual investigators and detective agencies, and registers agency employees. An individual licence requires age 18, a high school diploma, a board exam passed within the past 12 months, and 2,000 hours of investigative work as a registered employee of a detective agency. Licensees must carry $300,000 of general liability with errors and omissions insurance.
18
2,000 hours
Yes
$300,000 insurance
How to get licensed
- 1
Work 2,000 hours as a registered employee of a licensed detective agency (or seek equivalency)
- 2
Complete application pages 1, 2, 2a, 3 and 6 with fingerprint cards and fees
- 3
Pass the Board exam in Bismarck (arranged individually once requirements are met)
- 4
File a $300,000 general liability with E&O insurance certificate
- 5
Receive the licence, then renew each year by 30 September
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in North Dakota.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- 2,000 hours of private investigative services as a registered employee of a detective agency (board may grant equivalency)
- Training
- Firearms training equal to ND peace officers, plus 1,000 hours of service, only if armed
- Bond or insurance
- Certificate of insurance for $300,000 general liability with errors and omissions insurance, filed before an individual or agency licence is issued (N.D. Admin. Code 93-02-01.1-08)
- Fees
- Application and testing $150 (one-time); licence $225 a year; criminal record check $43 (from 1 October 2026); agency licence $450 a year plus $150 application; armed certificate $45 a yearFees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- About 30 business days once all applications, fees and documents are received (Board FAQ)
- Renewal
- Annually; all licences expire 30 September; renewal fee $225 (individual) or $450 (agency); late fees apply, and after 60 days a new application is required
- Continuing education
- Not published by the regulator
- Firearms
- Separate armed certificate needed: peace-officer-level firearms training, 1,000 hours of service and annual requalification; a concealed carry permit does not allow carrying while working
- Reciprocity
- None. The Board states it has no reciprocity, so out-of-state investigators must apply for a North Dakota licence and meet every requirement (residency is not required).
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
- 1 ndlegis.gov
- 2 ndlegis.gov
- 3 ndlegis.gov
- 4 pisb.nd.gov
- 5 pisb.nd.gov
- 6 pisb.nd.gov
- 7 pisb.nd.gov
- 8 ndlegis.gov
- 9 rcfp.org
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in North Dakota
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in North Dakota?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in North Dakota. The North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board licenses individual investigators and detective agencies, and registers agency employees. An individual licence requires age 18, a high school diploma, a board exam passed within the past 12 months, and 2,000 hours of investigative work as a registered employee of a detective agency. Licensees must carry $300,000 of general liability with errors and omissions insurance.
Who licenses private investigators in North Dakota?+
North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board, under N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 43-30; N.D. Admin. Code Article 93-02.
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in North Dakota?+
At least 18.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in North Dakota?+
2,000 hours of private investigative services as a registered employee of a detective agency (board may grant equivalency)
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in North Dakota?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
Do private investigators in North Dakota need a bond or insurance?+
Certificate of insurance for $300,000 general liability with errors and omissions insurance, filed before an individual or agency licence is issued (N.D. Admin. Code 93-02-01.1-08)
How often does a North Dakota PI licence need renewing?+
Annually; all licences expire 30 September; renewal fee $225 (individual) or $450 (agency); late fees apply, and after 60 days a new application is required
How much does a private investigator licence cost in North Dakota?+
Application and testing $150 (one-time); licence $225 a year; criminal record check $43 (from 1 October 2026); agency licence $450 a year plus $150 application; armed certificate $45 a year
How long does it take to get a PI licence in North Dakota?+
About 30 business days once all applications, fees and documents are received (Board FAQ)
How do you get a private investigator licence in North Dakota?+
1. Work 2,000 hours as a registered employee of a licensed detective agency (or seek equivalency) 2. Complete application pages 1, 2, 2a, 3 and 6 with fingerprint cards and fees 3. Pass the Board exam in Bismarck (arranged individually once requirements are met) 4. File a $300,000 general liability with E&O insurance certificate 5. Receive the licence, then renew each year by 30 September
Does North Dakota accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
None. The Board states it has no reciprocity, so out-of-state investigators must apply for a North Dakota licence and meet every requirement (residency is not required).
Can a private investigator record phone calls in North Dakota?+
North Dakota is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
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